FIFA World Cup 2014
A quick run down of my leans on the groups (lines from Caesar’s Palace):
Group A:
Brazil 1/4
Mexico 6/1
Croatia 8/1
Cameroon 25/1
My picks: Brazil to win the group (and 2/1 they win the whole thing), and Croatia to move onto the knockout round. Cameroon to make it to the second round isn’t a bad play, either. I have no faith in Mexico. Their coach looks like he’s on meth and was on an episode of “True Detective”:
Group B:
Spain 2/7
Netherlands 5/2
Chile 9/2
Australia 25/1
My picks: Netherlands to win, Spain to move onto the second round. Australia might not score a goal.
Group C:
Colombia 2/3
Japan 7/2
Ivory Coast 9/2
Greece 10/1
My picks: Japan to win, they are always a solid team and played well in Brazil last summer. Colombia to move onto the second round.
Group D:
Italy 3/2
Uruguay 8/5
England 2/1
Costa Rica 18/1
My picks: Toughest group to predict. I like Italy to win and Uruguay to move on (sorry Putland; I have a bet that the US will score more goals than UK #moneyonfire); England isn’t fit but Suarez also isn’t 100%. Don’t be surprised to see Costa Rica pull off a shocker upset here, too in one of the games. They are feisty. Edison Cavani for Uruguay for Golden Goal is my *reach* pick (33/1).
Group E (totally forgot about E yesterday!):
France -125
Switzerland +250
Ecuador +400
Honduras +2800
My picks: I like France to win, and Switzerland to advance. I also like Franc Ribery at -2800 to get caught with an underage Brazilian hooker
Group F:
Argentina 2/9
Bosnia 13/2
Nigeria 9/1
Iran 30/1
My picks: Argentina to win (also have them 11/2 to be runner up to Brazil); Nigeria to be second (reluctantly…they need to play better defense). Messi is due for a run, and he’s my Golden Goal pick (7/1). I have no idea who plays for Bosnia or Iran.
Group G:
Germany 5/9
Portugal 5/2
Ghana 10/1
USA 6/1
My picks: Portugal to win, USA to finish second. The Germans are not fit (if they were I might pick them to win)……if the US loses to Ghana, the Black Stars will finish second IMO. The key for the US, as Lou would say, can be summarized in one word: FORWARD.
Group H:
Belgium 1/2
Russia 2/1
South Korea 6/1
Algeria 30/1
My picks: Belgium a.k.a “Everybody’s Dark Horse” to win, South Korea to finish second…..they play well as a team.
End it here with two great videos on the top moments from the World Cups’ past (long):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGBuwL6hWSo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5AbVK-bpwU
